Author discusses holy Jewish treasures in the Vatican

Rabbi Benjamin Blech, co-author of The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican, makes an appearance in Toronto next week.

The well-known lecturer and professor at Yeshiva University is speaking on “A Miracle on a Mission to Rome: The Holy Jewish Treasures in the Vatican” at Beth Tzedec Congregation. He is expected to reveal fascinating details of the fate of many precious Jewish items.

His talk is free to the public and is being sponsored by the Beth Tzedec Max and Beatrice Wolfe Library. 1700 Bathurst St., Wednesday, Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m. To register, please call 416-781-3514, ext. 225 or e-mail library@beth-tzedec.org.

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Chai Tea Presents Israeli Film: Toronto Jewish Film Festival presents the Canadian première of Policeman (Ha’Shoter), Israeli director Nadav Lapid’s explosive 2011 film judged as one of the year’s best by the Village Voice. The story focuses on Yaron, part of an elite Israeli anti-terrorism unit that is pitted against a group of young anarchists associated with the global Occupy movement. (Occupy protests began in Israel two days after the film’s first public screening.)

• The Jubilate Singers and the Toronto Jewish Folk Choir perform “L’khayim!” a concert of Jewish music in Ladino, Yiddish and other languages to mark the 80th birthday of the late composer Milton Barnes. With klezmer ensemble Shtetl Shpil. Grace Church on the Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. Sunday, Nov. 25, 3:30 p.m. Tickets $25 to $10. 416-485-1988, www.ticketweb.ca.

• The so-called Jewish settlers of the West Bank tell their stories in The Spring of Judea and Samaria, a “ground-breaking” documentary produced by Ezra Ridgley. A screening takes place at York University Students Center, Room 307. Monday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. Watch the trailer on youtube.

• Shlomo Schwartzberg continues his discussion of the “Social Cinema of Sidney Lumet” with a look at The Dybbuk, Bye Bye Braverman, The Pawnbroker, Daniel and A Stranger Among Us. Miles Nadal JCC, Monday, Nov. 19, 7 to 9 p.m. $12, students $6.